Secure online shopping.

Despite the carnage that the credit crisis has wreaked on the High Street, online retail, demand remains strong and growth in 2009 if economic conditions remain weak and competition among online retailers for Web publishing heated.

A first indication of this anti-cyclical trend is the growth of online Christmas, in response to the beginning of January sales and discounts available online from the street of traditional suppliers. Tighter credit also has the power to increase Mers Scam Internet like never before. As Scam Seas are becoming more sophisticated and more people are desperate for ways to make money during the recession, consumers who buy online should be more vigilant and cautious of the traps that exist. IT security expert, who often shops online, I am one of the few security measures basic Internet and "must do" that we in the industry of IT security to ensure that we secure online shop error is to avoid the many scams Seas, the exploiters and opportunists, all ready to draw! The twelve golden rules for safe online shopping:

Rule number one: most uses Malware are known problems with software and operating systems. The hacker, or code writer, is to rely on people who are lazy and not keeping systems up-to-date. For this reason it is very important to your anti-virus software updated with the latest signature files (which usually happens automatically in the background with most anti-virus) and system updates Microsoft operating. This reduces the chances of malicious code or registration key software on your computer without your knowledge, the transfer of your data to fraudsters on the Internet.

Rule two: Never go online without personal firewall is enabled. This personal firewall adds another layer of protection for the PC by stopping unknown connections to the PC. The personal firewall in Windows XP and Vista is widely regarded as insufficient. They can check the data on the PC - a new pattern - but they can not monitor outbound connections. If your PC is infected with malicious software, you can send spam or other data on the Internet without your knowledge. By adding a personal firewall can stop unwanted and outgoing connections. There are a number of personal firewalls on the market - both free and paid. Some anti-virus personal firewall in their products.

Rule three: Do not choose the "Remember my password" when registering your password is then stored on the PC, often in plain text, and the first thing you send a fraudster. Some malware is designed and written to pick up your PC for these passwords. In addition, if you use a laptop is lost or stolen passwords with it .... go

Article Four: Make sure your credit cards are registered with your credit card online security services such as Verified by Visa and MasterCard Secure Code. "

Article five: Use one card for online purchases, maintaining a limit on the card as low as possible, or even a top-up card for online shopping.

Six line: Make sure you use a credit card and not a debit card. The bank offers a credit card with security assurances that are not with a debit card. So do not be tempted to make your shiny new Platinum card at an online store.

Article Seven: Check your statements regularly and if there is a sign of illegal activity, report it immediately.

Eight line: Always check for the padlock in the bottom right of the browser (using Internet Explorer) to enter into the details of your card. Verisign has recently added the green bar to display a Web site with an Extended Validation certificate - which means that the encryption key is strong, and the site for external validation.

Article new: Make it a habit to check the privacy policy of the site for more information on how your personal information will be used and only a minimum of personal data, especially in the online forms.

Rule Ten: Never Shop sites to click on links in the marketing of unsolicited emails (SPAM).

Eleven line: It is important to remember that you can do everything well, but the seller can do something wrong. A seller may store your credit card details on a single server. This creates a large target for an attacker in order. If the seller has violated the site, your information May be affected. The payment card industry has recently published its own standards of data security to try to protect this data at rest. But the standards are not yet fully implemented and the risk for all credit card transactions, not only through the Internet.

Twelve line: Finally, do not rely on previous testimony from customers - they are part of the marketing organization and not necessarily fact. The golden rule of negotiation is always the same as it ever was .... if the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is! These are the rules that I am many of my colleagues. Shopping on the Internet is more popular scams with increasingly sophisticated, so make sure you are not caught per trap in dangerous territory. By following these rules, you can log in and access to the Internet for bargains ... safe! Good luck and have fun.